216 'SPRING DECORATIONS'.
By Agnes Gardner King (Fl 1880-1902)

Daffodils conjure up dreams of a long hot summer to come. These small specimens just inside the old gates lend themselves to making pretty yellow bunches to take indoors. But the temptations of looking at other ways to enjoy the task set by a loving mother, is to enhance the appearance of their loyal and obedient mongrel.

Tucking the stems under his leather collar is a job needing care. Big sisters are very good at showing just how its done. And help is in the form of the little girls outstretched finger while she instructs the dog to "Stay.....Just sit and stay!". Just how long is this snapshot going to last?

Her brother is engrossed at the sight of obedience, and probably can't wait for dog to tear off and shed its unwelcome necklace! What a laugh it will be when he runs off tearing round in circles to dislodge the girl's endeavours.

The Pussy-Willow catkins above their heads are all but disappeared, and the foliage is just about to cover all traces of this other spring delight. Over the wall in the field behind the garden, the tall elms are still bare from the winter.

But look on the ground. There is a fur cone almost out of place here. Does it show that behind our view there is a pine tree? The childrens' 'Sunday' clothes show that this is probably not a poor household so perhaps the garden may be quite large and old. Pine trees in gardens would most likely have been planted, and if we next look at the wall built of stone, it indicates something very much older. What is at the other side of the wall through those big oaken gates? They have been closed for at least a year because the ivy is growing through a tight gap. The hinges will be on the other side so we can assume it is still within the boundary of the property. It can't be a kitchen garden because the gates would be opened every day. So just what is over there?

The sailors suite was something all Victorian boys wore for 'best'. His knees will get muddy from the moments of fun with his sisters, learning their girlish ways. He has his own posy which appears to have a few blue crocus's he found nearby. Perhaps in eighteen years time he will be proffering a posy to a loved one?

In a month or so the daffodils will be replaced with many other flowers, but the children's challenge will be to see who can make the longest daisy-chain. We'll creep off now and wait for the impending reactions.

Agnes Gardner King was a Nineteenth-Century miniaturist who also painted flowers, pets and children. She visited Florence in 1880, lived in London in 1882 and in Newbury from 1902. Titles include "A Wee Scotch lassie", The Little Persian Pet" and "Roses"